Earlier in the year Mike Huckabee stated that the process started too early and was driven by the pundits. We have seen several GOP candidates rise and fall throughout the primary process. None of them have captured the hearts of the voters.
It is not too late for Mike Huckabee to enter the race.
Huck could be the October Surprise that the voters are looking for:
The level of GOP dissatisfaction with the current crop of presidential candidates has created a window of opportunity for Mike Huckabee to enter the race for the Republican nomination.
If he chooses to do so:
Will opponents and their surrogates balk at Huckabee's change of heart? ("All the factors say go, but my heart says no.") Probably, but Mike Huckabee can turn it around by stating that their constant fighting on the debate stage and their lack of focus on reforms has given him heartburn.
Will pundits frame the entrance as too late citing Rick Perry's recent example of imploding on the debate stage? They will try but Mike Huckabee is best known for being an articulate, quick witted debater. While he has not been on the current debate stage, he has been on the hot seat-the HotSeat segment of his show-where he has debated liberals on economic, social, and foreign policy related issues. In addition, Huckabee has hosted conservative guests highlighting topics such as the debt ceiling, healthcare reform, job creation, Israeli/Palestinian conflict, and the FairTax.
Will his opponents place a target on his back like they did with Rick Perry in the last three debates? Hard to say. But given that Mike Huckabee had most of them on his show where they could highlight their platforms and set their records straight, it is highly unlikely that they would attack him right away.
Is there enough time for Huckabee to frame the debate? Yes, Mike Huckabee wrote in his book A Simple Government 12 chapters showcasing underlying principles and solutions to make America strong. All Huckabee has to do is provide additional detail on his reforms. That will allow voters to see that Huckabee's 10 1/2 years of managing a microcosm of the federal government has left him best prepared to take on the challenge.
Is there room for another GOP candidate-a late entry? Yes, the straw poll conducted in Florida is one such poll that shows dissatisfaction with Mitt Romney and Rick Perry--71% of the ballots cast were against the two front runners. Herman Cain won the straw poll earning more than Mitt Romney and Rick Perry combined.
Recent polling continues to show that undecided and not sure is still a preferred option amongst the voters.
Even though Mike Huckabee is not in the GOP race for 2012, he is still standing firm and leading on the issues that were part of his 2008 platform. On July 26th, Mike Huckabee heads to Congress to address the House Committee of Ways and Means on the Fair Tax.
"Now is the time! As Americans give an unfair and growing amount of their paychecks to the Federal Government, our mission is clearer now more than ever:
Folks, it is time we put the IRS out of business.
Together we can accomplish this goal if we work hard to show to the Republican controlled House of Representatives during next week's hearing that an overwhelming number of Americans are behind the FairTax.
Then we must work together to elect another record number of candidates to Congress (House and Senate) next year who support the Fair Tax or who are willing to learn more about it and a Republican President who will sign this legislation.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Fair Tax – let me briefly explain how it works.
You get rid of income tax.
You get rid of all the withholding.
You get rid of corporate taxes completely, totally. After all – those taxes are not really paid by the corporations. They're passed on to the customer with a 22 percent embedded tax in the system.
You eliminate that, which means the prices of what you purchase will go down.
You replace it with a 23 percent consumption tax. Now, that sounds expensive, but you only pay when you purchase something new, whether it's a product or a service.
Also, It's a completely transparent tax system.
It doesn't increase taxes. It's revenue neutral. It will bring business back to the United States that is leaving our shores – our current, complicated, unfair tax laws make it impossible for an American-based business to compete with lower tax structures in other countries.
Don’t tell me something this “sweeping” can’t be passed. With your help . . . it can – and it will.
I urge you to sign my petition of support for a FairTax Congress. Help us reach 100,000 signatures by July 25th at midnight. Why? So I can say when I testify about the FairTax before Congress, that over 100,000 Americans are standing with me today."
Back in January of this year, Mike Huckabee was on Follow the Money with Eric Bolling and addressed the concept of the Fair Tax:
January 26, 2011, the Fair Tax Bill H.R. 25 was introduced to congress. These House Representatives support the bill:
Sponsor: Robert Woodall, [GA] Tom Price, [GA] Dan Boren, [OK]
Steve King, [IA] Todd Akin, [MO] Brian Bilbray, [CA]
John Carter, [TX] Michael Conaway, [TX] John Duncan, [TN]
Virginia Foxx, [NC] Michael McCaul, [TX] Pete Olson, [TX]
Mac Thornberry,[TX] Tom Sullivan, [OK] Tom Gingrey, [GA]
Roscoe Bartlett, [MD] Don Young, [AK] Ander Crenshaw, [FL]
Mike Huckabee went on Fox News Sunday and further explained his decision on why he will not be entering the race for the Republican nomination. What impressed me most about Huckabee's decision is that ego and vanity could have kept Mike Huckabee in the race. But humility and faith kept him out. I can live with that!
WALLACE: You had a good chance to win the Republican nomination. The fact that you've done nothing to promote your candidacy and you were either first or second in all the polls, didn't you want to be president?
HUCKABEE: Absolutely, Chris. And I think that I would have made a fine president. But it really came down for me to a very personal, a very intimate and -- as I explained last night in the announcement -- a spiritual decision. You know, you look at all the political possibilities. And, frankly, I don't think that I'll have a better chance, but I don't rule anything out for the long-term future. But I just somehow believe deep within me that it wasn't the right time and it wasn't to be. And whether it was a lack of sort of detailed preparation, it's not going to happen this time.
WALLACE: I'm a little curious when you say "spiritual decision." I mean, is it -- and I know you're a man of great faith. But are you saying that you didn't have the fire in your belly to go this time?
HUCKABEE: Well, I think, sometimes, people mistake fire in the belly for too much pepperoni pizza the night before. They make a great speech and people come up to them and tell them, "You could be president." And the next thing you know, they're running, not because they really ought to or have any shot at doing it, but because they have, you know, a handful of people that tell them they are looking at the next president.
For me, it was a little more introspective than that. You know, sometimes, people ask me does God speak to me in an audible voice. And the truth is, no. It's a lot louder than that.
But I do believe that for those of us who are believers, there is a sense of peace. And I'll put it this way, Chris -- last night, I laid my head on the pillow and had a very good night's sleep. And I was at peace with the decision. And I am today.
WALLACE: Will you endorse a candidate for president?
HUCKABEE: Not immediately. Frankly, my feelings and my whole emotions are still a little raw from the process, because up until just a few days ago, Chris, I honestly I thought I would be in it. And more and more, the signs were pointing that way, the objections were moved out of the way, and I could see a pathway to getting the money that I never thought perhaps I could. And, you know, things began to unfold.
But it was almost as if the more that all of the external things began to materialize, the less the internal things began to crystallize for me. So, I need to kind of process my own feelings.
There are some great candidates. Most of them are very dear friends of mine. That would have made it a little difficult in the primary, because I would have found it hard to challenge some of them in some maybe significant way personally. There may be a point in which I endorse, but right now, I'll see how the race unfolds and listen carefully to how they develop their message.
WALLACE: Well, since you are staying at Fox, I'm going to ask you to do your job as a political analyst. You're getting out of the race leaves a big hole, especially in Iowa, and especially among social conservatives. Who do you think fills that void? Who do you think benefits most from your staying out of the race?
HUCKABEE: Chris, I think there are a number of people who probably maybe jump for joy last night. I don't know. But I think there are a number of people who are similar to me in terms of point of view. Rick Santorum, for example, a strong social conservative, but he's also strong fiscal and I think defense conservative, and foreign policy conservative as well. Tim Pawlenty, another person. Newt Gingrich. Michele Bachmann.
I think all of these folks, very clearly might benefit from it. Sarah Palin, should she decide to get in. And, you know, I think people are awaiting her decision like they were mine.
But those are some folks immediately, because of their strong positions on issues like life and traditional marriage, as well as fiscal conservativism. The truth is, most fiscal -- in fact, all social conservatives I know are also fiscal conservatives. Not necessarily the other way around.
WALLACE: Now, you didn't mention Mitt Romney.
HUCKABEE: No, but let me tell you something. I've got a wonderful voice mail from Mitt Romney last night, which I thought was gracious on his part. You know, there has been a lot of talk about Mitt Romney and me. And we don't socialize together. We're not close, you know, in personal ways.
But I want to make it very clear today, if Mitt Romney is the nominee for our party, I will support him because I believe that Mitt Romney would be better president of the United States than Barack Obama on any day. And whether he is my first choice, I will support him if he is our nominee. And he very well may be.
WALLACE: Now, immediately after your statement last night, Donald Trump suddenly appears. It was kind of funny. But could you support him for president?
HUCKABEE: You know, I'm going to support the Republican nominee. I'm a Republican. And unless a person is way out there and is not clear on issues that to me are non-negotiable like the sanctity of life. I believe Donald Trump would be better for America than Barack Obama, because he understands business. Donald Trump has taken a pro- life position. He believes that we're getting shanghaied by China, which I agree with.
By the way, a little insight here. Donald Trump takes two versions of the sort of end of the show -- one that I was running, one that I wasn't. And Donald Trump did not know which one would be used, nor did my executive producer, nor did my staff, right up until the moments before the show when I finally, of course, had to tell them.
WALLACE: Well, that's interesting. It's good they ran the right tape.
Governor Huckabee, we're going to miss you on the campaign trail. But I'm delighted you will remain our colleague at Fox News. Thank you, Governor.
Mike Huckabee used the last few minutes of his Huckabee show to announce to Fox News viewers that he is not going to seek the Republican nomination for President.
This has been a much anticipated decision as it affects other potential candidates who have not yet declared. Mike Huckabee will be on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace where he will further discuss his decision.
As a strong supporter of Mike Huckabee in 2008, I had hoped that he would run again in 2012. Mike Huckabee had asked his supporters to pray for him-discernment-so that he would make the right decision.
As I was driving to go hear him speak in Dallas this week, I did just that, I prayed that Mike Huckabee would hear what God's will was for him. That if God had other plans for him, that Mike Huckabee would clearly hear that calling. For believers in Jesus Christ, we know that when God closes one door, he opens another.
Mike Huckabee not only consulted his strategists, family members and friends, but he more importantly consulted God. And as many of us know, it is easy to take time to pray to God, but it is harder to take the time to sit and listen to what God has to say.
Mike Huckabee gave a thoughtful, well thought out reason for not seeking the nomination. I for one am proud that he acknowledged that he sought the Lord in this major decision. Mike Huckabee said that he found peace once he came to his decision. Now his supporters must do the same.
Key aspect of Mike Huckabee's statement from HuckPAC:
When people asked me what it would take for me to run, I would tell them the same thing---pray for me to have clarity in the decision. I don’t expect everyone to understand this, but I’m a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. That relationship is far more important to me than any political office. For me, the decision is ultimately not a political one, a financial one, or even a practical one ---it’s a spiritual one.
The past few weeks, the external signs and signals and answers to many of the obstacles point strongly toward running. When I am with people encouraging me to run, it’s easy to feel the strength of their partnership and commitment to help me to the finish line. Only when I was alone, in quiet and reflective moments did I have not only clarity, but an inexplicable inner peace—a peace that exceeds human understanding. All the factors say GO, but my heart says NO. And that is the decision I have made and in it have finally found resolution. I don’t fully understand it myself—but I’m sure the pundits will. But I know that under the best of circumstances, being President is a job that takes one to the limit of his or her human capacity. For me, to do it apart from an inner confidence that I was undertaking it with God’s full blessing is unthinkable. I can’t know or predict the future, but I know for now my answer is clear and firm. I will not seek the Republican nomination for President this year.
NCPA's Dr. John Goodman introduced Mike Huckabee stating "What you see is what you get-an authentic person who really understands policy issues." I saw that today in both Huckabee's speech and the question and answer session that followed. Mike Huckabee did not give a fire and brimstone speech. Instead he touched on several key issues affecting America using tempered language that he likes to call vertical politics. Huckabee feels that Americans are disappointed with today's politicians and how everything has become right or left (horizontal politics), rather than up or down. Huckabee noted that Americans are looking for someone who can lift America up, solve the problems without tearing each other down, and bring people together to implement solutions to get America back on track.
Mike Huckabee started the speech with his usual self deprecating humor and commonsense approach to governing. He excoriated the insular community in Washington DC that doesn't listen to the rest of America and forgets the impact that it has on businesses. Huckabee then introduced vertical politics stating that it is a tactical solution that we are not using very often. "Elections are decided not by those who embrace extreme positions but by those who view things from a vertical perspective. This view looks at whether we are getting better or we are getting worse. Are things improving or are they declining? Is my kid who just graduated from college going to be able to find a job to help pay off their college loans? The solutions that we have to develop in this country need to be pointing people toward how we are improving the future for the next generation rather than how we are going to beat those guys on the other side." My guess is that if and when Mike Huckabee gets into the race, his platform will be about bringing America together for the benefit of the next generation.
After his speech, the floor was opened up to questioning. One of the things I like best about Mike Huckabee, is that he always answers the questions he is asked. Below are the topics and his paraphrased words.
President Obama
With Obama, "we don't hear a president, we hear a candidate." Huckabee praised former presidents Bush 41, Clinton and Bush 43 for their ability to give a policy speech that focused on policy and not the politics of campaigning. Huckabee stated that "politicians are driven to ideological purity by primary campaigns. But actual governing is like a football game-where you gain a few yards at a time with the goal being attained incrementally."
The Punishing Tax System
"The problem with our current tax system is that we punish those things we want to reward and we reward those things we should want to punish. We need to reward behaviors we want to encourage and punish things we want to discourage. We need to throttle up, not punish people for having done so. America won't be a great country if we teach people to not work hard." Huckabee gave the example of bailing out reckless companies that are failing while over taxing prudent companies that are thriving.
Childhood Obesity
"We better bring up the issue because obesity is killing us. The role of government is not to raise our kids, but to raise awareness and change the culture." Examples that Huckabee gave where culture changed behavior included littering, smoking, wearing seat belts and drunk driving. He emphasized that in each case when the government codified the changes into law they only validated the new cultural norm.
Role of the Federal Government
"Stimulate good ideas that work for individuals. Each individual is his/her best government. Best government is self government. Comes down to individuals with a moral compass and families who actually raise their own kids and don't expect Uncle Sugar to do it for them. Individual health savings accounts-benefit of making good decisions. Not turning health care over to someone who does not know me and frankly who has no vested interested in my making a good decision. Government can help foster, puts more power into the hands of the individual."
Immigration Reform
"Moot process until we secure the border. All the discussion of how we are going to reform immigration starts with that first and foremost thing. I don't think there is a real appetite in America for all the intricate policy discussion of how you deal with it until you deal with the glaring issue of do you have control of your own borders. That has to be first and foremost."
Debt Ceiling
"If we keep raising the debt ceiling without ever coming to grips with what its doing long term-devaluing the dollar and destroying our economy- then we are doing the next generation a great disservice. Raise only if there is substantial commitment, execution of lowering the expenditures."
Terrorism
"We have to recognize, that when dealing with terrorists, we can't negotiate, can't worry about offending them. We as Americans have to do whatever it takes, like sending in Navy Seals and taking them out. I think the Israeli's have it right. You don't negotiate with terrorists. You get rid of the terrorist before they get rid of you. That's the only way to deal with it."
As Dr. Goodman said, what you see is what you get. As president we would have in Mike Huckabee a leader who answered the questions that are asked, who served the people of America and left partisan politics up to the pundits, who brought together the best and the brightest from both sides of the aisle to find solutions that work. We would have a president who understands that we have a responsibility to the next generation to leave America better than we found it.
